EXACT Lengths of Alto, Tenor, and F-Attachment Trombones

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Neo Bri
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EXACT Lengths of Alto, Tenor, and F-Attachment Trombones

Post by Neo Bri »

Hello chattles!

I would like to know exactly, in cm or inches, how long some instruments are. Assume A=440 and mentioned notes are perfectly in tune. If answers are to the nearest hundredth of an inch or centimenter, I'd be appreciative.

Alto: 1st position Eb
Tenor: 1st position Bb
F-Attachment: 1st position F

Thanks!
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Matt K
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Re: EXACT Lengths of Alto, Tenor, and F-Attachment Trombones

Post by Matt K »

I think this is what you're after for #2 and #3 (check out the second post): https://trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php? ... gth#p65057

Edit: actually you should be able to take Eb and divide by 2 right?
A Bb horn is approx 108 inches tube length, for every 1/2 step higher, divide by 1.0595 (twelfth root of 2)
For every 1/2 step lower, multiply by 1.0595, so that:
Eb=80.9 (alto length)
D=85.7
Db=90.8
C=96
B=102
Bb=108 (tenor length)
A=114.4
Ab=121.2
G=128.4
Gb=136
F=144.2 (F contrabass length)
E=152.7
Eb=161.8
D=171.4

so F to G = 144.2 - 128.4 = 15.8 inches removed (7.9 inches per leg)
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Neo Bri
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Re: EXACT Lengths of Alto, Tenor, and F-Attachment Trombones

Post by Neo Bri »

Yeah, that should do it. Didn't realize that old thread had a full chromatic list.

Thanks!
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LeTromboniste
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Re: EXACT Lengths of Alto, Tenor, and F-Attachment Trombones

Post by LeTromboniste »

There's no such thing as an exact length that is the same for all instruments. Bore size, profile of the curves of the instrument, bore profile/conicity, mouthpiece, individual sound production characteristics on the part of the player, etc etc, are all factors that affect the pitch. There's a rough approximation that will be basically right, but a precise number at the hundredth of a cm? No
Maximilien Brisson
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Lecturer for baroque trombone,
Hfk Bremen/University of the Arts Bremen
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